Pole-climber.



PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

H FOLDVIK POLE GLIMBER.- APPLICATION TILED JAN. 15. 190 7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

amnwboz M 4 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE;

HANS FOLDVIK, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO THOMASRENDAHL,

OF GEORGETOWN, COLORADO, AND ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES HULTBERG, OF DEN-.

VER, COLORADO.

POLE-CLIMBER.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed January 15. 1907. Serial No. 352.424.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HANS FoLDvrK, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pole-Climbers; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form. a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pole climbers being an apparatusadapted to be attached to the feet of the user, to facilitate theclimbing of poles as telegraph, telephone and other similar posts orpoles composed of wood or other soft material adapted to be indented bythe climbing devices.

In my improved construction one of the climbing devices is attached toeach foot of the user and consists of a body part provided with asecuring strap for fastening the same to the foot.

An important feature of my improved device, consists of a clamping hookjournaled in the body part and spring-retained. This clamping hook -isprovided at its extremity remote from the body part or foot piece, withj a hook-shaped prong adapted to indent the post. By reason of therotatable movement of the clamping hook in the body part, the climber isadapted for use with any size post. The smaller the post the nearer theclamping hook approaches the vertical plane. This hook engages the postor pole on one side, while the pair of prongs with which the body partis provided, engage the same on the opposite side.

Having briefly outlined my improved .construction I will proceed todescribe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device shownin operative relation with a post or pole, the latter being indicated bydotted lines. In this view the position of the foot when the device isattached thereto is also indicated.by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing the clamping hook in a different relative position thanthat shown in Fig. 1. The position in Fig. 2 is that into which theclamping hook is thrown when the device is not in use, that is to saywhen the user is passing from one pole to another. Fig. 3 is a view inperspective illustrating the body part of the device, the clamping hookbeing partly broken away, and the parts being shown on a larger scale.In this view the securing strap is omitted. Fig. 4 is afragmentary'cross section taken on the line 45 Fig. 2, the parts beingshown on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 45 Fig. 2showing the clamping hook in a different relative position from thatshown in Fig. 4. The positions of the clamping hook in Figs. 4 and 5correspond with those shown in Figs. 2 and 1, respectively.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the device which consists of apiece of metal curved upwardly at its opposite ends as shown at'6 and 7,the extremity 7 being provided with pron s 24. This metal bar 5, passestransverse y underneath the shoe of the user just forward of the heel.The extremity 6 is provided with an opening 8, and the extremity 7 witha metal loop 9 whose extremities are formed into eyes 10 through whichthe journal 12 of the clamping hook 12 passes. This journal also passesthrough an opening formed in the extremity 7 of the bar 5, the axis ofthe opening extend ing at right angles with the length of the bar 5, orparallel with the length of the foot. The journal of the clamping hookis longitudinally movable within the bearing of the body part but isstill sufficiently tight to cause it to normally maintain the desiredposition of adjustment. Made fast to the opposite extremities of theournal part of the clamping hook, are short crank arms 13 through whoseouter extremities is passed a From the journal of the clamping hook, theI latter curves inwardly assuming that the hook is in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 5.

If we assume that the hook is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4,the direction of the curve would be upwardly. In any event when thedevice is in use the clamping hook is provided at its extremity nemotefrom the journal with a sharp point 17, passes around the pole 18 on thefront side, its pointed extremity indenting the pole. The angle of theclamping hook when in use will depend upon the size or diameter of thepole. The greater the diameter of the pole, the nearer the hook will beto the horizontal position, while the smaller the pole the nearer thehook will be to the vertical position. The device is thus adapted foruse as heretofore explained with poles of varying diameter.

To the body part 5 of the device is applied a plate 19 which extends atright angles to the body part. The rear extremity of this plate isdownwardly inclined as shown at 20 whereby it is adapted to pass beneaththe heel of the users shoe; while its forward extremity passes forwardlybeneath the sole of the-shoe.

The device is secured in place on the shoe by a strap 21 which passesaround the rear part of the shoe, through the opening 8, the loop 9 andover the instep of the shoe where the same is fastened by means of abuckle 22.

In using the device one of the climbers is secured to each foot of theuser. When about to use the device, each clamping hook 12 should be inthe position or approxi mately in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5of the drawing. As the user proceeds to climb the pole, he first causesthe pointed extremity 17 of the clamping hook to engage the ole, andthen moves his foot downward y until the prongs 24 of the body of thedevice indent the ole on the opposite side from the hook. T e less thediameter of the pole, the greater will be the vertical distance betweenthe points where the hook 17 and the hook 17 maintains its positionuntil the body part of the device has reached such an elevation that thehook will be disengaged from the'pawl as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j

i 1. A. pole climber comprising abody part adapted to be secured to thefoot, the inner extremity of the body part having a prong, and aclamping hook journaled in the body part and cooperating with the prongof the latter, the journaled part of the hook having a cam member and aspring catch acting on said cam member, substantially as described.

2. A pole climber comprising a body part, a spring catch retainedclamping hook journaled in the body part, the journaled part of the hookhaving a cam member with which the spring catch. operates for thepurpose set forth.

. 3. A pole climber comprising a body part, a clamping hook j ournaledin the bodypart, the journal part of the hook having a cam member, and aspring catch acting on said cam member, substantially as described.

4. A pole climber comprising a body part adapted to extend transverselyunderneath the foot, means for securing the device in place upon thefoot, the inner extremity of the body part being provided with prongs,and a cooperating clamping hook journaled in the body part, thejournaled part of the hook having a cam member and a spring catch actingon said cam member, substantially as described.

5. A pole climber comprising a body part adapted to be secured to thefoot, a clamping hook journaled in the body part, the said journal beingadjustable longitudinally in the body part, substantially as described.

6. A pole climber comprising a body part adapted to extend transverselyunderneath the foot, a longitudinally disposed plate secured to the bodypart, means for securing the latter to the foot of the user, and aclamping hook journaled in the body part, the axis of the journalextending parallel with the length of the foot, the hook beyond thejournal curving inwardly, and its free extremity beingsharpened for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HANS FOLDVIK.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

